Ink distributions for rotary printing presses



J. E. MEYER May 13, 1958 INK DISTRIBUTIONS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1953 INV ENTOR. fiw WW May 13, 1958 J. E. MEYER INK DISTRIBUTIONS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26, 1953 J. E. MEYER 2,834,290

INK DISTRIBUTIONS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES May 13, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 26. 19525 INVENTOR.

May 13, 1958 J. E. MEYER INK DISTRIBUTIONS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES 6 sheets sheet 4 Filed June 26, 1953 INVENTOR.- W%W J. E. MEYER May 13, 1958 INK DISTRIBUTIONS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 26, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 13, 1958 J. E. MEYER INK DISTRIBUTIONS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 26. 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent INK DISTRIBUTIONS FOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Joseph E. Meyer, Westerly, R. I., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Cottrell Company, Westerly, R. L, a corporation of Delaware Application June 26, 1953, Serial No. 364,339

15 Claims. or. 101-350 This invention is directed to certain improvements in ink distributions for rotary printing presses, and espe cially high speed rotary printing presses.

One object of my invention is to provide novel means for adjusting the ink feed by varying the dwell of the ductors which oscillate to transfer the ink alternately from the ink fountain roll to their respective ink rolls.

Another object is to provide both main and auxiliary means for oscillating said ductors, means being employed to act through the auxiliary means for varying the dwell of the ductors on their ink fountain roll.

Another object is to provide rotary main cams and auxiliary cams driven thereby in unison therewith, for oscillating the fountain roll ductors, the means operating to alter the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams for varying the said dwell of the fountain roll ductors on the fountain roll.

Another object is to provide an ink distribution for high speed rotary printing presses, which distribution includes a continuous low speed ink fountain roll, two low speed ink rolls, and a high speed ink drum; two oscillating ductors being provided for transferring the ink from the fountain roll to the low speed ink rolls, and two main ductors being provided for transferring the ink from said ink rolls to the high speed ink drum.

A further object is to provide a novel means for controlling the swinging movement of rocking segments included in the train of gears connecting the main ductor operating cams with their auxiliary cams.

A further object is to provide a novel throw-01f mechariism to throw the fountain ductors away from their contact with the ink fountain roll and hold them in such position to completely stop the flow of ink when the press is tripped-01f impression or'for any other reason.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view, partly in section, of the portion of the ink distribution adjacent one of the side frames with the low speed ink rolls and the ductors omitted;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the portion of the ink distribution adjacent the other side frame;

Fig. 2ais a detail section showing, in-another position, the hand wheel for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams;

Fig. 3 is a detail side view of the portion of the ink distribution which includes this invention;

'Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken in the plane of the line IVIV of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 isa'detail side view, partly in section, showing the inkfountain roll, the ink drum, the upper and lower ink rolls the upper and lower ductors which oscillate between the fountain roll and the said ink rolls, and the upper and lower ductors which oscillate between the ink roll'sand the ink drum; V

Fig. 6 is a detail section, partly in diagram, of one of the auxiliary cam shafts and its throw-off cam in position to silence the upper and lower fountain roll contacting ductors;

Figs. 7 and 8 are front and side views, respectively, of one of the throw-off cams;

Figs. 9 and 10 are front and side views, respectively, of one of the auxiliary cams;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal vertical section showing a main ductor operating cam, its auxiliary ductor operating cam and the yielding connection between one of the cam operated levers and its ductor lever;

Fig. 12 is a detail section taken on the of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal vertical detail section showing the unyielding connection between the main cam operated lever and its ductor lever;

Fig. 14 is a detail section taken in the plane of the line XlV-XIV of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing the complete ink distribution and the gears for driving the same from the main drive shaft;

Fig. 16 shows the train of, gears between each fountain roll shaft and its main cam sleeve, and

Fig. 17 is a detail perspective view showing more clearly a part of the driving connection between a main cam sleeve and its auxiliary cam sleeve.

The ink fountain 1 is located between the side frames 2. The low speed ink fountain roll 3 has its shafts 4 rotatably mounted in the side frames 2. The high speed ink drum 5 has its hollow shafts 6 also rotatably mounted in the said side frames 2. Upper and lower small slow speed ink rolls 7 and 8 are located intermediate and spaced from the fountain roll 3 and ink drum 5.

A first pair of upper and lower ductors 9 and 10 oscillate between the fountain roll 3 and their respective upper and lower ink rolls 7 and 8. A second pair of upper and lower ductors 11 and 12 oscillate between the said upper and lower ink rolls 7 and 8 and the ink drum 5.

The form cylinder (shown in Fig. 15) is denoted by 13 and its upper and lower pairs of form inking rolls by 14 and 15 respectively.

An upper group of inking rolls 16, 17, 18, 19 lead from the ink drum 5 to the upper pair of form inking rolls 14. v A lower group of inking rolls 20, 21, 22, 23 lead from the said ink drum 5 to the lower pair of form inking rolls 15.

Beyond each end of the ink drums a main cam sleeve 24 is rotatably mounted on a supporting sleeve 25 fixed line XIIXII to and projecting from its adjacent side frame 2. Two.

ductor operating main box cams 26 and 27 rotate with their sleeve 24, the main cam 26 serving to oscillate the pair of ductors 9 and 10, which oscillate between the fountain roll 3 and the upper and lower inking rolls 7 and 8, and the main cam 27 serving to oscillate the ductors 11 and 12 between the said upper and lower ink rolls 7 and 8 and the ink drum 5.

Beyond each end of the ink fountain roll 3 an auxiliary cam carrying sleeve 28 is rotatablymounted on its fountain roll shaft 4. An auxiliary cam 29 is fixed to rotate with its sleeve 28 in unison with the main cams 26 and 27, which auxiliary cam 29 is also used to oscillate the pair of upper and lower ductors 9 and 10.

A ductor throw-off cam 30 is rotatably mounted on each of the sleeves 28.

The upper and lower ductors 9 and 10 are carried by ductor levers 31- and 32 respectively, mounted to rock on upper and lower stud axles 33 and 34, the arms 35 and 36 of which rock levers are yieldingly connected by spring means 37 and 38 to the cam operated rock levers 39 and 40. These rock levers are also mounted on the stud axles 33 and 34, andare operated'by the main cam 26.

The upper and lower ductors 11 and 12 are carried by ductorrock levers 41 and 41* also mounted on the upper and lower stud axles 33 and 34, which rock levers are provided with arms 42 and 43 fixed to rock with the cam operated rock levers 44 and 45, also mounted on the stud axles 33'and 34. These cam rock levers 44 and 45 are operated by the other main cam 27 on the rotary cam sleeve 24.

The main drive for the ink distribution is shown as includingthe following elements: a sprocket wheel 46 may be driven at the desired speed from the press and it is connected through a clutch 47 to the cross-drive shaft 48; The outer end of this shaft 48 has a bevel gear connection 49, 50 with a shaft 51, which in turn has a worm and gear connection 52, 53 with one of the ink fountain roll shafts 4 to drive the fountain roll 3 at the desired low speed.

The inner end of the drive shaft 48 is provided with a gear 54 which drives the ink drum at the desired high speed through the train of gears 55, 56, 57, 58, the gear 56 being rotatably mounted on the ink fountain roll shaft 4.

The rest of the ink distribution (see Fig. is shown as driven from the gear 58' through the common gear 59,

the upper group of gears 60, 61, 62, and the lower group of gears 63, 64, 65;

The upper low speed ink roll 7 is shown as driven at the desired low speed through the gears 66, 67, and the lower speed ink rolls 8 are shown as driven at the same desired low speed through the gears 57, 70.

Each main cam carrying sleeve 24 is driven at the desired speed from the fountain roll shaft 4 through the gears 71, 72, 73.

Each auxiliary cam sleeve 28 is driven from and in unison with its main cam sleeve 24 through the following train of gears: a sun gear 74, which is fast on the main cam sleeve 24, driving the gear 79 on the auxiliary sleeve 28 through the train of gears 75, 76, 77, 78. The gears 75 and 76 of this train are mounted on the rocking gear segment 80, which segment is guided by an arcuate track 81.

The upper and lower ductor levers 31 and 32 carry brackets 82 and 83, on which are mounted the cam rollers 84, 85 and' 86, 87'. The upper and lower cam rollers 84 and 86 are operated by the rotary auxiliary cam 29 of each cam sleeve 28, and the upper and lower cam rollers 85 and 87 are operated by the throw-off earns 30, loosely mounted on each of the said auxiliary cam sleeves 28. Both of these throw-off cams 30 may be rocked in unison by any suitable means, as for instance, air cylinders 88.

The means for adjusting-the ink feed for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary earns 29 to their main earns 26, to vary the dwell of the upper and lower ductors 9 and 10 on the ink fountain roll 3, may be constructed, arranged and operated as follows.

A handwheel 89 is provided with a shaft 90 which has a worm and wheel connection 91 and 92 with a cross shaft 93, which leads from side to side of the ink distribution axially through the main cam sleeves 24, the ink drum 5 and its shafts 6. A sprocket wheel 94 fast on each end of said cross shaft 93 is connected by a chain 95 to a sprocket wheel 96 fast on a short cross shaft 97. This cross shaft 97 is provided with a pinion 98 which meshes with the teeth on the gear segment 80, which carries the two intermediate gears 75, -76 of the gear train between the main cam sleeve 24 and its auxiliary cam sleeve 28.

It will be seen that a turn of the hand wheel 89 will rock the segment 80 and thus alter the angular relationship of the auxiliary cam 29 to its main cam 26, without affecting the unitary speed of the said cams.

It will also be seen that by changing the dwell of the upper and lower ductors 9 and 10 on their fountain roll 3, the supply of ink may be varied from zero to a predetermined maximum.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; and hence I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. In an ink distribution for rotary printing presses, a continuous speed ink fountain roll, two ink rolls, two ductors, rocking supports therefor, two rotary main cams for oscillating the ductors between the ink fountain roll and the ink rolls, two auxiliary cams for also oscillating said ductors, means for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams to vary the dwell of the ductors on the ink fountain roll, throwofi cams rotatably mounted on the axis of the auxiliary cams, and means for turning said throw-off cams to cause them to hold the said ductors out of contact with the ink fountain roll.

2. In an ink distribution for rotary printing presses, a continuous speed ink fountain roll, two ink rolls, two ductors, rocking supports therefor, two alined rotary sleeves, two rotary main cams thereon for oscillating the ductors between the ink fountain roll and the ink rolls, two alined rotary auxiliary cam sleeves, two auxiliary cams thereon for also oscillating said ductors, means for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams to vary the dwell of the ductors on the ink fountain roll, throw-01f cams rotatably mounted on the auxiliary cam sleeves in position to engage the ductor supports, and means for turning said throw-off cams to cause them to hold the said ductors out of contact with the ink fountain roll.

3. In an ink distribution for high speed rotary printing presses, a continuous low speed ink fountain roll, a high speed ink drum, upper and lower low speed ink rolls, located between and spaced from the fountain roll and ink drum, two pairs of upper and lower ductors, four rotary main cams on the axis of the ink drum, yieldingly connected rock levers operatively connecting two of the main cams to one of the pairs of ductors for oscillating them between the ink fountain roll and the ink rolls, rock levers operatively connecting the other two main cams to the other pair of ductors for oscillating them between the ink rolls and the ink drum, two rotary auxiliary cams located on the axis of the fountain roll and rotating in unison with the main cams and operatively connected to the first pair of upper and lower ductors, and means for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams, to vary the dwell of the first pair of upper and lower ductors on the ink fountain roll.

4. In an ink distribution for high speed rotary printing presses, a continuous low speed ink fountain roll, a high speed ink dnim, upper and lower low speed ink rolls, located between and spaced from the fountain roll and ink drum, four rotary main cams located on the axis of the ink drum, first and second pairs of upper and lower ductors, yielding means operated by two of said main cams for oscillating the first pair of the ductors between the ink fountain roll and the ink rolls, means operated by the other two main cams for oscillating the second pair of ductors between the ink rolls and the ink drum, two rotary auxiliary cams located on the axis of the fountain roll for oscillating the first pair of ductors, gearing operatively connecting said main and auxiliary cams to rotate them in unison, and means for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams to vary the dwell of the first two ductors on the fountain roll.

5. In an ink distribution for high speed rotary printing presses, a continuous low speed ink fountain roll, a high speed ink drum, upper and lower low speed ink rolls, located between and spaced from the fountain roll and ink drum, two rotary main earns located on the axis of the ink drum at each end thereof, first and second pairs of upper and lower ductors, means operated by the first pair of said main cams for oscillating two of the ductors between the fountain roll and the ink rolls, means operated by the other two main cams for oscillating the other second pair of ductors between the ink rolls and the ink drum, two rotary auxiliary cams located on the axis of the fountain roll for oscillating the first pair of ductors, gearing including rocking elements and intermediate gears carried thereby, operatively connecting said main and auxiliary cams to rotate them in unison, and means operating through said rocking elements for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams to vary the dwell of the first two ductors on the fountain roll.

6. In an ink distribution for high speed rotary printing presses, a continuous low speed ink fountain roll, a high speed ink drum, upper and lower low speed ink rolls located between and spaced from the fountain roll and ink drum two pairs of upper and lower ductors, four rotary main cams located on the axis of the ink drum, cam operated rock levers and ductor rock levers yieldingly connected thereto, for oscillating one pair of the ductors between the ink fountain roll and the ink rolls, two other cam operated rock levers and ductor rock levers operatively connected thereto for oscillating the other pair of ductors between the ink rolls and the ink drum, two rotary auxiliary cams on the axis of the fountain roll and rotating in unison with their main cams, and operatively connected to the first pairs of ductors, and means for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams to vary the dwell of the first two ductors on the ink fountain roll.

7. In an ink distribution for high speed rotary printing presses, a continuous low speed ink fountain roll, a high speed ink drum, upper and lower low speed ink rolls located between and spaced from the fountain roll and ink drum, two pairs of upper and lower ductors, rocking supports therefor, two rotary main cams located on the axis of the ink drum for oscillating one pair of the ductors between the ink fountain roll and the ink rolls, two additional rotary main cams for oscillating the other pairs of ductors between the ink rolls and the ink drum, two rotary auxiliary cams rotating on the axis of the fountain roll in unison with the main cams for also oscillating the first pairs of ductors, and means for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams to vary the dwell of the ductors on the ink fountain roll.

8. In an ink distribution for high speed rotary printing presses, a continuous low speed ink fountain roll, two low speed ink rolls, a high speed ink drum, four ductors, rocking supports therefor, two rotary main cams for oscillating two of the ductors between the ink fountain roll and the ink rolls, two additional rotary main cams for oscillating the other two ductors between the ink rolls and the ink drum, two rotary auxiliary cams for also oscillating the first two ductors, means for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams to vary the dwell of the ductors on the ink fountain roll, throw-off cams rotatably mounted on the axis of the auxiliary cams in position to engage the first two ductor supports, and means for turning the throw-off cams to cause them to hold the said ductors out of contact with their ink fountain roll.

9. In an ink distribution for high speed rotary printing presses, a continuous low speed ink fountain roll, a high speed ink drum, upper and lower low speed ink rolls, located between and spaced from the fountain roll and ink drum, two pairs of upper and lower ductors, rocking supports therefor, two alined rotary sleeves on the axis of the ink drum, two rotary main cams fixed on said sleeves for oscillating one pair'of the ductors between the ink fountain roll and the ink rolls, additional rotary main cams fixed on said sleeves for oscillating the other pair of ductors between the ink rolls and the ink drum, two alined rotary auxiliary cam sleeves on the axis of the fountain roll, two auxiliary cams fixed on said sleeves and rotating in unison with the main cams for also oscillating the first .6 I pair of ductors, and means for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams to vary the dwell of the ductors on the ink fountain roll.

10. In an ink distribution for high speed rotary printing presses, a continuous low speed ink fountain roll, two low speed ink rolls, a high speed ink drum, four ductors, rocking supports therefor, two alined rotary sleeves, two rotary main cams thereon for oscillating two of the ductors between the ink fountain roll and the ink rolls, two additional rotary main cams on said sleeves for oscillating the other two ductors between the ink rolls and the ink drum, two alined rotary auxiliary cam sleeves, two auxiliary cams thereon for also oscillating the first two ductors, means for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams to vary the dwell of the ductors on the ink fountain roll, throw-off cams rotatably mounted on the auxiliary cam sleeves in position to engage the first two ductor supports, and means for turning the throw-off cams to cause them to hold the said ductors out of contact with the ink fountain roll.

11. In an ink distribution for high speed rotary printing presses, a continuous, high speed ink fountain roll, upper and lower ink rolls spaced therefrom, upper and lower ductors, rocking supports therefor, two axially alined rotary main cams operatively connected to their respective rocking supports for oscillating the ductors between the fountain roll and the upper and lower ink rolls, two rotary auxiliary cams on the axis of the ink fountain roll and driven in unison with the said main cams for also oscillating the upper and lower ductors through said upper and lower rocking supports and means for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main .cams to vary the dwell of the ductors on the ink fountain roll.

12. An inking mechanism according to claim 11 which includes two normally stationary throw-oft cams located on the axis of the fountain roll and means operatively connected to said throw-off cams to turn them for causing the cams to engage said rocking supports to hold the ductors out of contact with the ink fountain roll.

13. In an ink distribution for high speed rotary printing presses, a continuous low speed ink fountain roll, a high speed ink drtun, upper and lower low speed ink rolls located between and spaced from the fountain roll and ink drum, two pairs of upper and lower ductors, rocking supports therefor, four axially alined main cams located on the axis of the ink drum and operatively connected to their respective rocking supports for oscillating one pair of upper and lower ductors between the fountain roll and the upper and lower ink rolls and the other pair of upper and lower ductors between the ink rolls and ink drum, two auxiliary cams located on the axis of the fountain roll and driven in unison with the main cams for also oscillating the ductors through their rocking supports and means for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams to vary the dwell of the first pair of upper and lower ductors of the fountain roll.

14. An inking mechanism according to claim 13 which includes two normally stationary throw-off cams located on the axis of the ink fountain roll and means operatively connected to said throw-off cams to turn them to cause the cams to engage their respective rocking supports for holding the first pair of upper and lower ductors out of contact with the fountain roll.

15. In an ink distribution for high speed rotary printing presses, a continuous low speed fountain roll, a high speed ink drum, upper and lower ink rolls located between and spaced from the fountain roll and ink drum, first and second pairs of upper and lower ductors, upper rocking supports for the upper ductors of both pairs, lower rocking supports for the lower ductors of both pairs, four rotary main cams located on the axis of the ink drum and operatively connected to their respective upper and lower rocking supports, for oscillating the first pair of ductors between the fountain roll and ink rolls and the se'cond pair-'of duct'ois between the ink rolls and the ink drum, two-rotary auxiliary earns on the axis of the f0untain roll and driven in unison with the main'cams-fo'r also oscillatingthe ductors'throu-gh their rocking supports, and means for altering the angular relationship of the auxiliary cams to their main cams to vary the dwell of'the first pair of upper and lower ductors onthe fountain roll.

664,578 Pancoast Dec. 25, 1900 8 D'roitcour Apr. 19 Story Jan. 2, Wilcox July 13, Crafts Apr. 27,, Barber June 15', Lamatsch Dec. 27, Harless Oct. 24, 

